Sportfishing Threatened!

[Sam]

Wow, here's a new outrage I just came across. Apparently, the Obama administration is working with radical environmental groups on plans to restrict or end Americans' recreational fishing by Executive Order. The plan is already far advanced and they've quit taking public input !!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4975762

[catman70]

Has anybody heard anything more on this article: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4975762

It appears that recreational fishing will be lumped in with commercial fishing, and the decisions regarding limits, seasons, etc. will depend more on emotion than scientific basis. Please comment and input.

Thanks!

[bigredbirdfan]

LOLLLLLLL

[jdmidwest]

I heard that today also, I thought he would attack gun ownership first, not go after the fishermen. Here is another article on the matter.

Obama Admin Anti Outdoors

[eric1978]

If you guys really think that our recreational fishing on Missouri's rivers and lakes is in any danger, you should check yourself into the nearest mental hospital. I suggest you think twice before you believe every scrap of propaganda you read.

[troutfiend1985]

I don't think that our fishing rights are in jeopardy, but if you are concerned then contact a local representative.

[jdmidwest]

The Obama administration will accept no more public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing the nation’s oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

Seems like only NOAA and the Green'ys will have a say in future fishing regulations. It will be by issued Executive Order, no voting or public input.

And I thought guns would go first!

Obama Admin to ban sportfishing

[solus_vero]

Great post Sam.

I can not see sport-fishing ever being outlawed. The economic impact would be devastating. I do however see how they could raise prices and tax so high that the regular Joe could not afford to fish.

If there has always been a sport a regular blue collar man could afford, it would be fishing. It would be a pitiful shame to see that go by the wayside.

I read that article and I could feel my grandfather spinning in his grave.

I remember stories my mother told of gathering myself and my 2 sisters up, putting us in a little red wagon and pulling us down to the river to catch diner. Yes, we were that poor. But my sisters and I never realized we were poor because our bellys were full and we knew we were loved.

After years of hard work I find myself with a bass boat and time to fish when I want. Something I always though was a pipe dream.

AND NOW ,, you say the government wants to take that away from me ?!?!

Well ,, all I have to say is,,

THEY CAN HAVE MY FISHING ROD WHEN THEY PRY IT OUT OF MY COLD DEAD FINGERS !!!!

.

[Al Agnew]

So okay, let me get this straight. There have been no recommendations yet from this task force, let alone recommendations to ban sport fishing, let alone sport fishing in inland waterways which aren't even a part of what the task force is considering. Apparently the scary thing is that the task force hasn't specifically recognized the economic benefits of sport fishing, and supposedly is made up of people with close ties to "big green" whatever that is, but apparently "big green" is supported by groups who are opposed to fishing. So there is an awful lot of supposition and innuendo that Obama is going to rubber stamp whatever the task force says, and the task force is going to do something to limit sport fishing someplace or another...apparently someplace in the oceans, but maybe someplace in the Great Lakes.

In my opinion, this is fear-mongering of the worst sort. There is, at present, ZERO concrete evidence that this thing will result in curtailment of sport fishing in any sort of widespread basis. Chances are that sport fishing COULD be curtailed in some specific spawning areas in coastal waters...maybe. But this article, now quoted from two different websites so far, has ZERO facts, just a lot of supposition. Does it bear watching? Of course. But it would be political suicide for anyone in national public office to all of a sudden sign off on any kind of major ban of sport fishing. This sounds to me like somebody wanting to make political hay and trying to rouse the rabble. I'd say we should wait for some facts and concrete recommendations and actions before we go off the deep end.

[KCRIVERRAT]

The Obama administration will accept no more public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing the nation’s oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

Seems like only NOAA and the Green'ys will have a say in future fishing regulations. It will be by issued Executive Order, no voting or public input.

And I thought guns would go first!

Obama Admin to ban sportfishing

Don't look over your shoulder while you're fishing. It ain't as much fun. And... you're goldfish are now safe!